Method and apparatus for twisting a plurality of strands



March 17, 1964 V, F VQLK 3,124,923

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TWISTING A PLURALITY OF STRANDS Filed Aug. 2, 196].

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ya zm March v17, 1964 v, F, VQLK 3,124,923

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TWISTING A PLURALITY OF STRANDS Filed Aug. 2, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ig. 4c

Fig. 4b

Fig. 4a

IN VEN TOR.

. strand.

United States Patent C) My invention .relates to apparatus. and method tfor twisting together elongated strands and particularly to such apparatus and method for high-speed wire stranding.

Three general-types of Iapparatus have long been known for the twisting together of cables, ropes and other elongated strands. ln the first of these the strands to be twisted are paid parallel from a plurality of fixed stations .onto a reel which is made to rotate end-over-end and thereby apply a twist or spiral to the parallel group of strands feeding onto it. In the. second method the `strands to' be twisted are contained on individual ree-ls which are made to rotate around each other, as by all being mounted on a large vertical plate which turns on an horizontal axis. In this case the take-up station is. fixed andthe ltwist is imparted entirely by the rotation `ott the group of `pay-olif reels around a common axis.

In the third method both the pay-off and take-up stations are fixed but the strands, after leaving their respective reels are swung in A a loop around the pay-of reel, or around the take-up reel.

Each of these types of apparatus has serious short- 4earnings in cumbersomeness, inherent slow speed of operation, and low storage capacity. In the first oase Iwhere the takeJup reel rotates end-over-end, the total capacity of the apparatus without reloading i-s limited to the .capacity of the reel that ycan be so rotated in a structure of practical size, and the speed oi operation is `severely li-mited by the centrifugal forces developed when .large-sized equipment is rotated. The speed limitation imposed by centrifugal forces is even more .severe in the second `case Where large reels `are revolved bodily' around each other in a vertical plane. vThe speed of operation of apparatus of the second type is `also severely limited by .consideration of imbalance since the reels are not exactly equal in weight and may not be loaded equally. The third type of apparatus is the 'fastest .operating of the Ithree known types but it, too, is limited by the neces- .sity ,for rotating trames large enoughto carry the swing- L ing strands aro-und the reels.

A very troublesome problemin the third type of apparatus is the tensions created in the strands lthemselves by .centrifugal force and by `the friction incurred by centrifugal force when such strands arerotated in large loops at high speed.

I have invented a method and apparatus ttor twisting a plurality of strands which can be operated at very high speed, and also at high capacity without-reloading. My apparatus and method-do not require either that the take- -up reel shall rotate end-over-end, that the pay-off reels shall revolve bodily around each other, for that the strand shall be made to swing `around other reels of In the apparatus of my invention for twisting together elongated strands means are provided for mounting a .plurality of coils in tandem on a common axis Ythrough their centers and for Irotating .the coils around this axis. 'Ilhere lare guide means cfor withdrawing the strands from the inside of the coils and passing them .through the centers of the more forward of said coils. `Thenthere are means for bringing the strands together at a station where they are twisted together due to the notation of the coils, and there are means for taking up the twisted strands. I have also provided means for advancing the strands at a speed proportional to the speed of rotation of the coils. 'Ilhe coils of strand may conveniently be'wound on reels having a drum portion and end ilanges, with the drum portion detachable fromat least one of the anges so that thev strands are then paid off internally. The mounting means for lthereels may comprise a-t least onepipedype member for receivinga reel land means for supporting ka `detached flange against the supply of strand on its respective reel. I ,have valso provided that the mounting means may be comprised of la plurali-ty of individual units; pivotally mounted on vertical axes for ease in loading the coils.

I have invented a reel comprising a first and .asecond `flange and .a drum oompiisinga plurality' ot' longitudinal members betweenl the anges. These Vdrum members are hinged to swing inwardly rfrom one of the .anges and are detachabl-y connected to the other flanges. In one embodiment of my invention .the longitudinal members are -tapered with-wide and narrow lendsalternating at the flange. -In this case the. members having their wide ends hingedtat the flan-ge are closable over the remainder of the members to form a substantially continuous pyramidal surface tapering toward the other flange and guiding Ithe strand from the inside of its coil toward the perforation in one of the flanges.

I have invented .the method of twisting together .elongated strands comprising the steps of formingithe strands into a plurality of coils, mounting the coils in tandem on a common axis throughthei-r centersl `and drawing the strands from the inside of the coils. In mycmethod the strands drawn Ifrom the inside Ioi the coils .are lthen passed 'through the centers of the more Iforwardly of `the tandem coils, the 'coils are rotated yaro-und their common axis and the strands l'are `brought together ,and twisted by means ofthe rotation of the coils. The twisted strands are then taken up.

A more thorough understanding of .my invention .may be gained from -a study of the appended drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 a diagrammatic side elevation of `a strandcr made to my invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section of one of the elements of the strander of FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is an end view-of the reell of :my invention in 'collapsed condition.

FIG. 4a is jan end view ,of thehinged .flange of. th

reel of my invention.

invention vis equally. applicable to strands containingdifferent numbers of wires and particularly.` to` a `twoawire strand or twin. In the apparatus'shown six .reels 11912, 13, 14, 15, V16 are supported respectively by mountings 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 in a tandemalignment. Anadditional reel 23 is mounted yon a reel stand 24 at .the rear of the apparatus. The reel 23 `contains a supply of wire 25 which ispassed over a guide sheavc 26 andthroughthe centers of the reels 11-16. The re'el 11 contains asupply of wire 27 in the form of a coil28 and each of the: remaining reels 12--16 support similar-coils. A-principal function of the reels 11-16 is Vthat they-provide; aprac- Ytical means for supporting coils of wire, such as vthe coilZS.

It is a novel feature that, .instead of .paying from the outside of the reel, the wire. 27 pays oli, .of the linside of the coil 2S through the centers of the reels'12--16.

Similarly the wire on each of the reels 12-16 is seen to pay olf from the inside of its coil through the centers of the more forward reels. The strand 25 in passing through the center of the reel 11 and the forward reels 12-16 necessarily passes through the center of the coil 28 and through the coils on the more forward reels. Similarly, the wire 27 in passing through the reels 12-16 necessarily passes through the coils of Wire contained by these reels. Although I have shown a wire 25 and wires on the reels 11-16 it will be understood that my invention is by no means limited to metallic wire, but other types of strands may also be twisted by my apparatus. These may include fibrous strands and composite strands of various types. My apparatus is singularly well adapted for the stranding of insulated electrical conductors such as paper or plastic-insulated telephone conductors.

The mountings 17-22 support respectively pipe-lengths 29-34 in journals 36-41. The pipe lengths 229-34 have sprockets 42-47 keyed thereto and are driven by chains 48-53 from a drive shaft 54 which is in turn driven by a motor 56. The most forward reel 16 has its forward flange 57 supported by means of a short pipelength 58 driven through a sprocket 59 and chain 60 from the shaft 54. I have shown the pipe-lengths 29-34 and 58 driven by means of chains and sprockets but it will be understood that other means can be used for driving, such as direct gearing to the shaft 54 or by armatures constructed integral with the pipe-lengths 29-34, and 58. The illustrated apparatus may be preferred for the sake of simplicity and low cost, but other drives are capable of greater speeds.

The Wires 25, 27 and additional wires from the reels 12-16 are brought together at a forming die 61 at which station they are twisted together to form the strand or cable 62. The strand 62 is pulled by a capstan 63 driven from the shaft 54 by means of the bevel gears 64, 66, shaft 67, worm gear 68 and Wheel 69. The strand 62 is taken up on a large cable reel 71 mounted on a reel stand 72 and driven by a take-up mechanism not shown in the drawing which may be selected from a number of such mechanisms well known to persons skilled in the art. From a consideration of FIG. 1 it will be obvious that the apparatus 10 can be operated at very high speed since the rotating elements are limited in diameter to the diameters of the flanges of the reels 11-16. As the wire 25 and the wires from the reels 11-16 advance forward they are confined in the limited diameter of the pipe-lengths 29-34 and 58. The centrifugal force acting on these wires does therefore remain moderate even at high rotational speed. Consequently there is little or no danger of wire breakage and little friction acting between the wire and the walls of the pipe-lengths.

A better understanding of one manner of assembling the reels on my apparatus 10 can be obtained from FIG. 2 which is a detail in partial section of my apparatus 10 showing the mounting 18, reel 12 and a forward flange 73 of the reel 11.

The pipe-length 30 is fitted with a collar 74 keyed to rotate with the pipe-length and adapted to receive a flange 76 of the reel 12. The collar 74 has an annular shoulder 77 from which a pin 78 projects into an opening 79 through the flange 76 by which means the reel 12 is caused to rotate at the same speed as the pipe-length 30 and the collar 74. A mating flange 81 of the reel 12' is not supported on the mounting 18 but is supported on the mounting 19 (FIG. 1) and is caused to rotate at the same speed as the remainder of the reel 12. The drum of the reel 12 is segmented and the segments are hinged at the flange 76 and are detachable from the flange 81 so that they can be swung inwardly toward the pipelength 30. A detailed structure of the reels and manner of swinging the drum segments is shown more completely in FIGS. 3, 4, and and will be described hereinafter.

The journal 37 supports the pipe-length 30 in a ball bearing 82 so that it can be rotated by means of the sprocket 43 and chain 49. The mounting 18 is itself rotatably supported in a base 83 which has key recesses 84, 85 to permit the mounting 18 to be locked in position 90 degrees apart by means of a vertical key 86 Slidably mounted on the mounting 18. When the key 86 is inserted in the recess 84 the pipe length 30 is aligned with the pipe-lengths 29, 31 and when the key 86 is inserted in the recess 85 the pipe-length 30 is rotated perpendicular with the line of advance o'f the strands so that the reel 12 can be easily placed in position on the strander or removed therefrom. To the left of the sprocket 43 a portion 87 of the pipe-length 30 is threaded and an internally threaded collar 88 is turnable thereon'. Slidably mounted on the end of the pipe length 30 and keyed thereto is an annular shoe 89 recessed at 91 to fit over the threads 87. The shoe 89 supports three arms 92, 93, 94 designed to lt under a rim 96 of the flange 73. Light springs 97-97 connect the arms 92, 93, 94 to the shoe 89 releasing the arms from the flange 73 when the shoe 89 is free to move to the right. An annular ridge 98 in the shoe 89 restricts the motion of the arms 92, 93, 94 under the influence of the springs 97-97. It will be seen that the flange 73 can be locked to the pipe-length 30 by a clockwise turning of the collar 88 forcing the shoe 89 to the left. By a similar means not shown the flange 81 is locked to the pipe-length 31. and each of the right-hand flanges of the reels 11, 13, 14, 15, 16 is locked respectively to pipe-lengths 30, 32, 313, 34, 58 (FIG. 1).

FIGS. 3-5 show a preferred embodiment of a reel 99 suitable for supporting a coil of wire on the strander 10. The reel 99 has a flange 101 with a rolled rim 102 to which are hingably mounted segments 10S-110. The segments 103, 105, 107, 109 are widest in proximity to the flange 101 and taper toward the end farthest from the flange 101. The segments 104, 106, 108, 110 are narrowed to a point of the flange 101 and broader as they receded from the flange 101. At the end of the reel 979 farthest from flange 101 the widths of the segments 103, 105, 107, 109 are but slightly greater than the widths of the flanges of the segments 104, 106, 108, 110. Segment 104 has dog ears 111, 112 projecting under the segments 103, 105 respectively. The segment 106 has dog ears 113, 114 projecting under the segments 105, 107 respectively.

` The segment 108 has dog ears 115, 116 projecting under the segments 107, 109 respectively and the segment 110 has dog ears 117, 118 projecting under the segments 109, 103 respectively. The segment 103 is hinged by means of perforated projections 121, 122 to the flange 101 through lugs 123, 124, 125, 126 and pins 127, 128. The segment 104 terminates in a projection 129 in a plane radial to the axis of the reel 99. The projection 129 is perforated to match perforations in two parallel lugs 131, 132 projecting at right angles from the flange 101. A pin 133 passes through the perforations in the projection 129 and the lugs 131, 132 to hinge the segment 104 to the ilange 101. Similarly each of the other of the segments 103-110 is hinged to lugs projecting from the flange 101. A leaf spring 134 (FIG. 5) fastened by a rivet 136 to the flange 101 urges the segment 103 inwardly. Similarly the segments 105, 107, 109 are urged inwardly by leaf springs riveted to the flange 101. The segments 104, 106, 108, are forced inwardly of the segments 103, 105, 107, 109 due to the dog ears 111-118. The segments 10S-110 have respectively aixed at the center of their right-hand edges one each of inwardly facing lugs 137-144. The lugs 137-144 project through slots 146-153 respectively in a flange 154 for the right end of the reel 99. A circular plate is fixed to the outer surface of the flange 154 by bolts 156, 157, 158 having bolt heads 159, 160, 161 respectively and projecting respectively through arcuate slots 162, 163, 164 in the plate 155. The plate 155 has ears 166-173 extending radially inwardly and facing circumferentially in a counter clockwise direction to respectively engage the inwardly facing l lugs 137-144, thereby locking the flange 154 through the ysegments S-110 when the reel is being used for storing Wire. When the reel has been assembled on one of the mountings, such as the mounting 18, and the flange 154 has been engaged by the arms,.such as the arms 92- 94, the lugs 137-144 are disengaged from the flange 154 by applying a force clockwise to a projection 174 on the plate 155 whereupon the right-hand edges of the segments 103-110 are urged inwardly by lthe pressure of leaf springs, such as the leaf spring 134, permitting any strand which had been coiled onto the drum formed by the segments 10S-110, to be'withdrawn through a central aperture 176 in the flange 154. The width of the segments 103, 105, 107,' 109 is so related to the width of the segments 104, 106,108, -110 that the right-hand edges of the u segments 103,l 105, 107, A109-will fold over the frame `made by the right-hand-edgesof the segments 104, 106, 103, 110 whenthe reel 99-is `inoperating position on the strander10. The dimensions of the segments 103, 105,

v 107, `109 are so chosen that an edge 177 of the segment 103 matches an edge 17S ofthe segment `105 when the` segments yare in their strandwithdrawing position. Similarly each ofthe edges of -one of the outer segments has a matching edge inl-one of the other of such segments with the result that the drum assumes a substantially continuous .-curvi-pyramidal-surface tapering toward the flange The hinged edges of the drum segments such as an edge 181 of the segment 103 are relieved to provide clearance between the corners such as 132 and the flange 101 when the drum is in its collapsed position. I have therefore provided an annular spacer 183 bonded against the flange 101 to prevent wires from slipping between the flange and the drum when the drum is being wound. At least one of the drum segments, such as the segment 105 in FIG. 4b has a notch 184 in the edge adjacent to the flange 154 to provide an opening for the leading end of the wire being wound thereon.

Operation To practice the method of my invention I prefer to use the apparatus invented by me and hereinbefore described. In the use of this apparatus, wire is wound onto a plurality of reels such as the reel 12 with the drum segments locked in winding position to the flange 81 of reel 12 (corresponding to the flange 154 of the reel 99). The wire is wound on the reels in the conventional manner except that in initiating the winding a length of the wire is first inserted through the notch 134. Each of the pipelengths 29-34 is rotated to a position normal to their common axis and the reels 11-16 placed thereon with the flange such as the flange 76 of the reel 12 fitting over the collars such as the collar 74 of the mounting 18 and the pins such as the pin 7S fitting into the flange openings such as the opening 79. The strand 25 is threaded back to front through each of the pipe-lengths in turn starting with the pipe-length 29 and ending with the short pipelength 53. It will be understood that instead of using the strand 25 to thread the strander 10 a length of scrap wire or rope can be used for this purpose without adversely affecting the operation of my invention. The leading ends of the wires which had been inserted into the drum notches of each of the reels 11--16, such as the notch 184 of the reel 99, are then all firmly tied to the threaded wire 25. The mounting 17 is then rotated 90 degrees to its in-line position. Following this the next mounting 18 is also rotated to its in-line position while carefully taking up the slack in the wire 25 so as to avoid pinching the wire between the mounted reels. The threaded collar 8-8 is then turned until the arms 92, 93, 94 engage the rim 96 of the flange 73, locking the reel 11 firmly in position on the strander 10. The element on the reel 11 corresponding to the projection 174 on the plate 155 is then tapped in a clockwise direction (FIG.

4c) so that the ears 166-173v release the drum segments and allow them to fall inwardly under the urging 'of the springs 134. The wire on the reel 11 is then free to pass through the space left between the ends of the drum segments and the flange 73 into the pipe-length 30 which thus constitutes a guide means for withdrawing the strand from the inside of the coil. Each of the remaining mountings 19, 20, 21, 22 is rotated in similar fashion, taking care not to pinch the slack wire, until the flange 57 of the reel 16 has been locked by the arms on the pipe-length 58. The wires are then all pulled through the center of the strander 10 until the slack has been taken up, and threaded through the die 61 over the capstan 63. The stranding operation is then begun by starting the motor 56.

ln order to contain the coil 28 on the reel 11 in a balanced condition during the stranding operation, and

-the corresponding coils on reels 12-16, it may be desired particularly for very fine wire to attach a plurality of cover segments such as the segment 191 (FIG. 4b and FIG. 6)

to 4each of the reels 11-16. The segment 191 is comprised of a curved plate 192 matching closely tothe outer surface of the coil 28 and flange segments 193; 194 which fit `respectively over the flanges 101, 154. The flange segment 193 is provided with a bolt hole 196 matching a hole 197 in the reel flange 101 whereby the segment can be securely aflixed to the flange by means ofl a bolt 198 and a nut 199. Y The flange segment 194 has a similar hole 201 matching a hole 202 in the flange 154 whereby the segment can be locked to the flange with the aid of a bolt 203 and a nut 204. It will be understood that means other than those described may be used to fix the segment 191 to the reel of my invention and that I do not wish to be limited to the means shown.

I have invented a novel, improved method and apparatus for twisting together elongated strands for which I desire an award of Letters Patent.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for twisting together elongated strands comprising means for mounting each of a plural-ity of coils of said strands in 4tandem on a common axis through their centers, means for rotating sai-d coils laround said axis, guide means for withdrawin-g said strands from lthe inside of said coils, each of said strands passing through t-he centers of the :more 4forward of said coils, means downstream of said coils for bringing together said strands and twisting said strands together `due tol the rotation of said coils, and means for taking up said twisted s-trands.

2i. An apparatus for twisting together elongated strands comprising means .for mounting each of a plurality of ycoils of said strands in tandem on a common axis through their centers, means for -rotating said coils around said axis, guide means for with-drawing said strands from the inside of said coils, each of said strands passing through the centers of the more forward of said coils, means for advancing said strands at a speed proportional to the speed of rota-tion of said coils, means downstream o-f said coils for bringing together said strands and twisting ysaid strands together due to the rotation of said coils, and means for `taking up said twisted strands.

3. An :apparatus for twisting together a plurality of elongated strands comprising reels for said strands, said reels having end flanges and drum portions `attached to said flanges, said drum portions being detachable from at least `one of said ilanges du-ring said twisting whereby said strands can be paid internally from said reels, means for mounting said ree-ls in tandem on a common axis through their centers, means for rotating said reels around said axis, guide means for withdrawing said strands from the inside of said reels, each of said strands passing through the centers of the more forward of said reels, means `downstream of said reels Afor bringing together said stran-ds and twisting said strands together due to the rotation of said reels, and means for `taking up said twisted strands.

4. An apparatus `for twisting together a plurality of elongated strands comprising reels for said strands, said reels having end flanges and drum portions attached to said flanges, said drum portions being detachable from at least one of said lianges during said twisting whereby said strands can be paid internally from said reels, means for mounting said reels in tandem on a common axis, said mounting means comprising at least one pipe-like member for -receiving a reel, means for supporting each of said detached flanges against the supply of strand on its respective reel, guide means for withdrawing said strands from the inside of said reels, each of said strands passing through the centers of the more forward of said reels, means downstream of said reels for bringing together said strands and twisting said strands together `due to the rotation of said reels, and means for taking up said twisted strands.

5 An apparatus for twisting together elongated strands comprising a plurality of mounting means for supporting coils of said strands in tandem on a common axis through their centers during the operation of said apparatus, said mounting Imeans being pivotable on vertical axes for loading said icoils, guide means for Withdrawing said strand from the inside of said coils, each of said strands passing through the `centers or the more forward of said coils, means downstream of said coils for bringing together said strands and twisting said strands c 'Y Q together due 4to the rotation of said support means, and means for taking np said twisted strands.

6. A method of twisting together elongated strands comprising the steps of forming said strands into a plurality of coils, mounting said coils in tandem on a common axis through their centers, drawing said strands trom the inside of said coils and passing each of said strands through the centers olf the more forwardly of said tandem coils, rotating said coils around said axis, bringing together said strands downstream of said coils, twisting said strands by means of the rotation of said coils, and taking l up said twisted strand.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,030,426 Parsons et al. June 25, 1912 1,614,594 Boe Jan. 18, 1927 1,843,076 Angell Jan. y26, 1932 2,001,065 Klein May 14, 1935 '2,050,243 Bouget Aug. 11, 1936 2,208,914 Van Hook July 23, 1940 2,416,076 Uhler Feb. 18, 1947 2,659,192 Ripley Nov. 17, 1953 2,826,035 Cogger Mar. 11, 1958 2,909,340 Whitaker Oct. 20, 1959 I2,910,822 Bunch Nov. 3, 1959 2,924,395 Steele Feb. 9, 1960 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR TWISTING TOGETHER ELONGATED STRANDS COMPRISING MEANS FOR MOUNTING EACH OF A PLURALITY OF COILS OF SAID STRANDS IN TANDEM ON A COMMON AXIS THROUGH THEIR CENTERS, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID COILS AROUND SAID AXIS, GUIDE MEANS FOR WITHDRAWING SAID STRANDS FROM THE INSIDE OF SAID COILS, EACH OF SAID STRANDS PASSING THROUGH THE CENTERS OF THE MORE FORWARD OF SAID COILS, MEANS DOWNSTREAM OF SAID COILS FOR BRINGING TOGETHER SAID STRANDS AND TWISTING SAID STRANDS TOGETHER DUE TO THE ROTATION OF SAID COILS, AND MEANS FOR TAKING UP SAID TWISTED STRANDS. 